The Utah Jazz (22-25) will take on the Denver Nuggets (19-30) tonight at Vivint Smart Home Arena at 7:00 PM. The Jazz come into the game winners of 3 straight, their longest such streak of the season. The Nuggets beat the Toronto Raptors in their last game 112-93 as they snapped the Raptors 11-game winning streak. The Jazz remain a half game behind the Portland Trail Blazers (24-26) for the 8th and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Here is Utah Jazz Head Coach Quin Snyder with the media following shoot around:
Gordon Hayward continues to lead the team in scoring (19.9 points per game) and assists (3.7) as he carries a great deal of the load for the Jazz. He is playing well and it is good that the Jazz are starting to get all their players back healthy and full-strength. Here is Gordon Hayward with the media following shoot around:
Rudy Gobert is a stud defensively as he blocks 2.5 shots a game and grabs 10.6 rebounds a game. Both stats lead the Jazz. His offensive game continues to improve as the Jazz continue to use the lob pass with Gobert. He has had some pretty outstanding alley-oops in the last few games. Here he is with the media after shoot around this morning:
Derrick Favors leads the team in steals at 1.3 per game. The Jazz are glad to have him back in the lineup for both his offensive game as well as his defensive presence. Overall, the Jazz continue to play well defensively as they are 4th overall in the NBA in scoring defense at 96.7 points per game. Even offensively, they are slowly improving. Their assists continue to go up. They are now 28th in the league in team assists (18.6), but that is better than dead last which they have been for most of the season.
The NBA announced today that Utah Jazz rookie forward Trey Lyles has been named to the World Team of the Rising Stars Challenge as he joins teammates Raul Neto and Rodney Hood in the game. Lyles met with the media today after shoot around. Here is the audio:
